He says, "It will be impossible to have MRI machines without the liquid helium to cool the magnets."

Helium is also used in fiberoptic cables - it helps keep the signals strong.Â All those screens in our lives? The LCD screens - those need helium, too.Â We need helium for telescopes and NASA uses it to clean out rocket engines.

Richardson co-chaired an inquiry into the world's dwindling helium supply.Â He just published a report recommending the price of helium go up 20-50 fold.Â That would make it worthwhile for people to recover and recycle helium. And it would make balloons very expensive.